The 2022 NHL draft class in New England runs deep, but there isn’t a Matty Beniers (Hingham, Mass.), Matt Boldy (Millis, Mass.), Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) or Oliver Wahlstrom (Yarmouth, Maine) projected to go in the top half of the first round.
The top New England prospect for the 2022 NHL draft is Northeastern freshman Jack Hughes, the son of Kent Hughes, recently named general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. Hughes, from Westwood, Mass., often is referred to as the “other Jack Hughes,” in reference to the 2001 birth-year forward selected first overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2019. The Huskies’ Hughes is a skilled, smart center who can make plays and finish.
In these rankings, you’ll see that I prioritize players who have moved on to the USHL. While prep school hockey is a terrific route for the vast majority of players, I value prospects with a desire to challenge themselves at the highest level. There are still some very talented players in the prep school circuit, and a handful of them will hear their names called this July. Obviously, more than a few of the players in these rankings won’t be drafted. However, each player to make this list, even at the bottom, has at least one skill-set worth monitoring.
More rankings from this series:
Nos. 1-5 | Nos. 6-10 | Nos. 11-15 | Nos. 16-20
5. James Fisher (Wilmington, Mass.)
Belmont Hill/EC Wizards U-18, 4/28/04, RW, right shot, 6-2/170
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Fisher can take over games at times with his size, physical element and goal-scoring ability. He’ll shoot it from anywhere and isn’t afraid to throw his weight around to recover 50/50 puck battles. Fisher’s skating will translate to the next level. He can protect pucks and distribute the biscuit to open teammates. Consistency needs to improve, but there’s a lot of upside. He’s had some big games this fall and winter.
4. Ryan Healey (Hull, Mass.)
Sioux Falls, 6/5/04, D, right shot, 6-0/178
NCAA commit: Harvard
Healey has taken his lumps at time this season, his first full one in junior hockey. His skating is his elite attribute. Going forward, he’ll drive puck possession. He’s had to learn to play defense this season, being hemmed in his zone more than he’s been used to in the past. This will benefit him in the future. Healey is another example of a kid challenging himself and showing a willingness to play against the best. He shouldn’t be punished for that, as he’d be dominating prep or Midget hockey if he had stayed home in New England.
3. Jackson Dorrington (North Reading, Mass.)
Des Moines, 4/13/04, D, left shot, 6-2/192
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Dorrington has major upside from the blue line. Another product of Cushing, his athleticism and strength often are on display. He’s had a strong last year that has included a summer where he excelled at national camp and made the Hlinka-Gretzky team. He’s got a mean streak and is tough to play against. Offensively, he has the skating and stick to impact the game on the scoresheet.
2. Cam Lund (Bridgewater, Mass.)
Green Bay, 6/7/04, C, right shot, 6-2/185
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Lund has big-time upside. His first season of Tier 1 junior hockey started off slow, but he’s starting to find his stride. The former Cushing and Junior Bruins standout has reached the double-digit goal plateau in the USHL. Lund has that quick twitch that you want to see when projecting players. His skating, stick and vision allow him to project as a potential point producer at the pro level. Being more of a complete player and competing hard away from the puck are areas of his game that could use improvement as his development continues.
1. Jack Hughes (Westwood, Mass.)
Northeastern, 11/2/03, C, left shot, 5-11/170
Averaging a little less than half a point per game doesn’t seem like the recipe for high draft stock. However, it’s important to realize Hughes is going up against players who are as much as five or six years older than him. If he were in junior or prep school like other prospects in this pool, he’d have significantly better numbers and be more of a force on puck possession. Hughes has the skating, skill, and offensive instincts to be a middle-six center in the NHL someday. What’s impressed me most in his freshman campaign at Northeastern is his willingness to play hard, fight for pucks, and go to the dirty areas.
